Lawsuit Attacks Ga. Mental Health System; Could Cost Millions

Miss-Delectable

Miss-Delectable

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A federal judge has given the green light for a lawsuit that could be a major blow to Georgia's mental health system and cost taxpayers millions.

The lawsuit accuses the state of discriminating against deaf people who are also mentally ill.

“Financially, emotionally, mentally, it’s a strain on me,” Gale Belton told Channel 2’s Diana Davis.

Belton's daughter Renita is deaf and mentally ill. When Belton tried to get her counseling, she said it was a struggle.

“I had 10 providers to turn me down before I found one,” Belton said.
The state of Georgia has services and funding set aside for mentally ill Georgians without hearing disabilities, but almost nothing for people like Renita.

“Deaf individuals are left out in the cold and do not have the services that hearing people have,” lawyer James Radford Jr. said.

Lawsuit Attacks Ga. Mental Health System; Could Cost Millions - News Story - WSB Atlanta

Judge OKs lawsuit by deaf Ga. residents - NewsTimes
 
Good! More states need to be hit with lawsuits like this.
 
We need to raise some hell to give deaf people more consideration. I know someone who works at the Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center in St. Louis who told me that they try not to admit deaf patients in order to avoid paying interpreter fees. :roll:
 
This is a sticky wicket.

I totally support full access to mental services for deaf people. I'm totally against any kind of discrimination against deaf people.

However, is suing state hospitals for huge fines the best way to go about it?

It is the Georgia tax payers, not the hospital management, that will pay the bill. Those tax payers include deaf residents. Also, it could mean cuts in other services to pay for the lawsuit.

Or do the hospitals have enough insurance to cover the suit?

:hmm:
 
I do think most hospitals are required to have huge amounts of lawsuit insurance, so they might be covered by that.
 
"According to the lawsuit, Georgia lacks therapists and counselors who speak American Sign Language. Communication is usually through hand interpreters, but third-hand communication doesn’t work well when it comes to psychiatry."
Interesting.

(I'll call myself a "hand" interpreter now. :giggle: )

Seriously. Does that mean they aren't requesting interpreters but ASL signing psychiatrists? :dunno:

"Since there are no group homes for the deaf mentally ill, Belton had to buy one for her daughter with her own money. Even with that home, she had trouble finding anyone trained to staff it."
Wow!
 
Ah, I checked the second link and got my answer.

"The lawsuit claims the state needs to hire more counselors trained in sign language and devote more funding for group homes for hundreds of deaf residents in need of specialized mental health care."
 
Since there are no group homes for the deaf mentally ill, Belton had to buy one for her daughter with her own money. Even with that home, she had trouble finding anyone trained to staff it."
Wow!
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Well I think that's b/c mentally ill deaf is a very low incidence population.
There IS a mental insistuion in Florida specificly for dhh people. Also my state has a deaf unit in a mental hospital.
 
deafdyke said:
Well I think that's b/c mentally ill deaf is a very low incidence population.
There IS a mental insistuion in Florida specificly for dhh people. Also my state has a deaf unit in a mental hospital.
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I understand the reason. I'm shocked that individuals can buy group homes on their own. That's quite an undertaking.
 
Beowulf said:
We need to raise some hell to give deaf people more consideration. I know someone who works at the Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center in St. Louis who told me that they try not to admit deaf patients in order to avoid paying interpreter fees. :roll:
Click to expand...

That would not surprise me, unfortunately.
 
Reba said:
This is a sticky wicket.

I totally support full access to mental services for deaf people. I'm totally against any kind of discrimination against deaf people.

However, is suing state hospitals for huge fines the best way to go about it?

It is the Georgia tax payers, not the hospital management, that will pay the bill. Those tax payers include deaf residents. Also, it could mean cuts in other services to pay for the lawsuit.

Or do the hospitals have enough insurance to cover the suit?

:hmm:
Click to expand...

The hospitals have the insurance to cover the suit. Maybe not the best way, but unfortunately, it is often the only way left.
 
Reba said:
I understand the reason. I'm shocked that individuals can buy group homes on their own. That's quite an undertaking.
Click to expand...

Most group homes are individually owned and state certified.
 
jillio said:
The hospitals have the insurance to cover the suit. Maybe not the best way, but unfortunately, it is often the only way left.
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That's what I thought but:

"A federal judge has given the green light for a lawsuit that could be a major blow to Georgia's mental health system and cost taxpayers millions."

:dunno:
 
Reba said:
That's what I thought but:

"A federal judge has given the green light for a lawsuit that could be a major blow to Georgia's mental health system and cost taxpayers millions."

:dunno:
Click to expand...

Because I suppose the lawsuit is against the state run facilities. That is probably the assumption that it will cost taxpayers when the state run facilities are forced to hire terps or counselors who sign.
 
jillio said:
Because I suppose the lawsuit is against the state run facilities. That is probably the assumption that it will cost taxpayers when the state run facilities are forced to hire terps or counselors who sign.
Click to expand...
It doesn't seem like that would cost millions.
 
Oh great insurance will cover it...... No drawbacks to that. :roll:
 
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